Emilie carefully folded each article of clothing she picked up and placed it into the large black duffel bag that sat on her bed. It felt like she had been packing all day, laying out everything she was going to bring, getting rid of the unnecessary items she didn't need, and then the hassle of cramming it all into one bag. She never was good at this, considering the limited amount of traveling she did in her life she never knew if she was over packed or under packed. Did she really need this should she have packed that? It was enough to drive a person insane. Luckily her slip into madness was put on hold by the ringing of her phone. Emilie sighed with relief at the sound of the piercing ring. Maybe taking a brake would help clear her head.

"Hello?"

"Good you're alive. I can call off the search party."

Or maybe not.

"Hi Ma" Emilie said in a less then enthusiastic voice.

"Hi Ma? That's all you have to say? How about an 'I'm sorry I haven't called Ma'? Or maybe a 'I'm glad to see your still breathing Ma'? But all I get is 'Hi'."

Emilie so wasn't in the mood for this. She loved her mother but needless to say she was a bit over dramatic at times.

"Two weeks!" her mother continued "Two weeks and not one phone call!"

"I'm sorry Ma I've just been really busy."

"Too busy to call your mother? I only gave birth to you; I'm only responsible for your existence. But that's okay I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to call...after I'm dead!"

This was how every conversation with her mother always went. If there was a sport for Jewish guilt Emilie's mother would be the MVP.

"Ah Christ Ma cut me some slack. I had to put in extra time at work making sure everything was set before I go North Carolina."

"Your sister works seven days a week at her high profile law firm and still has time to stop and call her mother. Not to mention take care of a husband and a baby, two things I might add you do not have."

"Well then Ma I guess you should have just stopped after one kid." Emilie answered in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh how could you say such a thing?"

"Ma I gotta pack. I'm leaving at 6 am tomorrow."

"Well I was just calling to make sure your coming for Rosh Hashanah. I have to know how much food to make."

"Yeah I'm coming." She answered knowing that if she didn't she'd never hear the end of it.

"And should I make a place at the table for this Jeff boy?"

"Ma!"

"What? I'm just asking. Effie's bringing Brian."

"Yeah because he's her husband."

"So? You don't have to marry the boy to bring over to meet your family...well at least not yet?"

"Ma!"

"Why can't you just bring him? Is he having Rosh Hashanah dinner with his family?"

"Well actually..." Emilie had been putting this off as long as possible but she figured she'd have to tell her mother soon or later. "He's not Jewish." She said quietly almost hoping her mother wouldn't hear her at all. But no such luck.

"He not what?!"

"Ma I gotta go I'll call you later" she hung up the phone, not giving her mother the chance to respond. Emilie knew her mother was going to freak when she found out Jeff wasn't Jewish. For as long as she could remember her mother would lecture her on the importance of marring a Jew. She would tell her that Judaism was dieing out and that she owed it to her enslaved ancestors of Egypt to keep the religion alive. That wasn't a lot of pressure for a ten year old. As she got older her mother would try to marry her off to every Jewish boy they met. Every introduction sounded like voiceover for the Dating Game. 'Contestant number one is an accountant from Dix Hills. He's already been married twice but hopes that third times the charm. Contestant number two is a pre-owned car dealer from Jersey. With a summer time share in the Hamptons. And Contestant number three is a thirty-three year old mama's boy with a Napoleon complex and a tendency to wet the bed.' It's no wonder she wasn't married. The ringing of the phone sounded again. Emilie picked it up preparing to be scolded for hanging up on her mother.

"Yes Ma?"

"There's a name I haven't been called yet." Said the young woman on the other end.

"Oh sorry Amy I thought you were my mother."

"It's all cool. Just calling to make sure you're still coming tomorrow?"

"You couldn't keep me away if you wanted too."

"Cool. So Jeff's gonna pick you up and then you guys will come by Matt's house for the barbeque."

"Sounds like a plan."

"You nervous?"

"Why would I be nervous?" Emilie asked trying to mask her true emotions.

"Come on girl, you don't have to act for me. I've been there; I know exactly how you're feeling. You're worried his friends won't like you. But mostly, you're scared his father won't like you."

"What if he doesn't?"

"Trust me Em, just be yourself and he'll love you, just like the rest of us do."

"Thanks Amy."

"Well enough of this mushy shit I gotta go help Matt pick up some food for tomorrow. I'll talk to ya later."

"Alight. Bye Amy."

Emilie smiled as she hung up the phone. She was surprise to find that she actually did feel better. It wasn't even what Amy said but just the fact that she was going to be there made Emilie feel at ease. Not only had the two become very close but it was not too long ago that Amy was in Emilie's exact position. She was right, all Emilie could do is be herself and hope to be excepted into the Hardy clan. She just hope that who she is was the type of person they would like.